Lionel Messi Reportedly to Be Rested Regularly for the Remainder of the Season

Barcelona will reportedly rest Lionel Messi before their biggest matches for the rest of the season. 

According Marca's Luis F. Rojo, the Argentinian and manager Ernesto Valverde have discussed the issue and agreed the rest would help get the best out of the forward in Barca's most important games.

As such, Messi could be rested for the weekend's clash with Eibar, which precedes the UEFA Champions League meeting with Chelsea.

Per Rojo, Messi recently admitted that while he does not enjoy sitting on the bench, it could help keep him fresh:

"Whenever I have to sit on the bench, I get disturbed because I don't like to be off [the field]. I like to participate, help from within, but I also understand that one season is long and that each day you have to take more care because the campaigns are getting tougher."

The 30-year-old has completed 90 minutes his 32 of his 36 appearances this season, scoring 27 goals and assisting 14 in that time.

Grup14's Rafael Hernandez praised Valverde's decision to rest the talisman during Barca's 1-1 draw with Espanyol earlier in February:

Though the Blaugrana were held to a 1-1 draw in that match, it was perhaps more due to the extreme weather conditions than Messi starting on the bench.

Messi already has a great deal of football in his legs this season, so managing his fitness to keep him as fresh as possible in the second half of the campaign is a shrewd move from Barcelona, and it will also benefit him for Argentina at the World Cup.

Barcelona are, naturally, not at their best when Messi is absent, but their other stars will need to do their best in the matches in which he's rested to ensure it does not prove costly.